2. XI. 1920

Comrade Klason!

I am afraid that you—forgive my frankness—will not be able to make proper use of the SNK decree on Hydrotorf 373. I fear this because you apparently spent far too much time on "senseless daydreaming" about the restoration of capitalism and did not pay sufficiently careful attention to the extremely peculiar characteristics of the transitional period from capitalism to socialism. But I say this not with the aim of reproach and not only because I recalled our theoretical debates of 1894–1895 with you, but for a narrowly practical purpose.

In order to make proper use of the SNK decree, it is necessary to:

1) ruthlessly and rigorously lodge timely complaints about its violations, following execution most carefully and, of course, selecting for complaint only cases that fit the rule "rarely, but to the mark";

2) from time to time—again following that same rule—write to me (NB on the envelope: *personally from such-and-such from such-and-such a matter*):
I request that you send a reminder or inquiry
of such-and-such kind (draft text on a separate sheet)
to such-and-such a person or institution on such-and-such a question, in view of the recognition of "Hydrotorf's" work as of state importance.

If you do not let me down, i.e., if the reminders and inquiries are strictly business-like (without departmental squabbling or polemics), then in 2 minutes I will be signing such reminders and inquiries, and they will sometimes bring practical benefit.

With wishes for swift and great success to your invention and with greetings

V. Ulyanov (Lenin)

First published in 1929
in the journal "Izobretatel'" No. 2
Printed from the manuscript